A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1458 - 986: Racing Against Time_2

Chapter 1458: Chapter 986: Racing Against Time_2

"Mr. Duanmu? Are you talking about the earthquake just now? How is that possible?!"

Upon hearing Mary’s reply, the crowd was all the more astonished, but Mary did not elaborate—after all, their background was not something that could be easily explained to these people.

"Anyway, now that everyone has gathered here, if those shadows want to assassinate their originals, they will certainly mix in among the crowd. So the next step is very straightforward for us..."

"But finding the shadows won’t be an easy task."

Diamond Window spoke up. Shadows could be identified, but it wasn’t simple. Though shadows almost perfectly mimicked their originals in appearance, they had one vulnerability—they were shadows. When someone stepped on their shadow, the shadow would instinctively evade.

But with so many people here, trying to identify them one by one was practically impossible.

"There’s no need to worry about that."

Mary shook her head and then looked out at the crowd, her golden right eye faintly glowing at this moment.

"Just follow my instructions."

A man blended silently into the crowd, hiding in the shadows as he fixated on his original. The latter had no idea his death was drawing near. After wandering around the gymnasium, he let out a yawn and left to smoke.

There was no one around. Now was the time!

The man gripped the fruit knife in his hand and, taking advantage of no one noticing, left the gymnasium quietly. He knew his target had gone behind the gymnasium. If he followed, killed the original, he would become his true self!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"

However, just as the man reached the corner of the wall, a sudden whooshing sound broke the silence. A flurry of nails shot out swiftly, pinning the shadow cast on the wall firmly!

"Uhh—!"

As the nails struck the wall-bound shadow, cuts appeared on the man’s body. Before the shadow could react, Minami Hiyori darted forward at lightning speed, swinging a hammer directly and smashing it heavily into the shadow’s head.

"Ah—!"

In the instant Minami Rizhu’s hammer hit the shadow’s head, the man let out a miserable scream. His head exploded in an instant and vanished in mere moments.

"Well done, Ms. Minami."

Standing on the second floor of the gymnasium, Mary withdrew her gaze and looked again at the crowd below.

"Next, it’s that elderly woman over there still wearing white pajamas..."

Before the Golden Pupil, no shadow or illusion could escape scrutiny.

There were no secrets.

"Boom—!"

While Mary and her team hunted shadows infiltrating the crowd, Duanmu Huai was fighting shadows in the sewer.

"Ah, nothing beats a good old proper brawl!"

Looking at the massive baby-like monsters in front of him, larger than ordinary humans, Duanmu Huai grinned viciously. He threw a punch, instantly smashing one of the baby monsters into pieces. Then, like an enraged bull, he charged forward—scores of shadow creatures emerged from all directions of the dark. They lunged at Duanmu Huai, but their actions were entirely futile, crumbling spectacularly like they’d been hit by a speeding train.

"Did you really think such weak creatures could stop me? Naive!"

Duanmu Huai swung another punch, shattering the shadow creatures ahead into pieces, then stomped his right foot down hard. With his movement, the entire sewer shook violently again. The surrounding ground cracked apart explosively, and those shadow monsters disintegrated into dust.

"Hmph, nothing special."

Duanmu Huai coldly snorted, sweeping his eyes across the fading remains before striding forward.

Since Nedai Shinpei and the others had previously visited the Shadow Boss’s lair, Duanmu Huai easily found the path leading to the lair. However...

"Do you really think this can stop me?"

Staring at the wall of shadows sealing off the entrance, Duanmu Huai clenched his right fist again.

"Did you think you could stop the Tribunal?!"

He bellowed furiously and threw a punch forward once more!

"Boom—!!"

As Duanmu Huai’s fist smashed into the thick shadowy wall, it erupted instantly, destructive flames igniting. Within moments, it was destroyed entirely.

The wall of shadows crumbled like foam. Before Duanmu Huai was a massive opening, at the end of which sat a white-haired girl in a crimson kimono, trembling and terrified as she stared at him. Behind her, her shadow spread out like ink, nearly engulfing the entire cavern.

"So, you’re the original."

Duanmu Huai clenched his fists and began walking slowly toward the trembling white-haired girl.

"No, don’t come any closer..."

The girl in the crimson kimono quivered, sitting forlornly on the ground as she stared at Duanmu Huai in sheer terror. She seemed so pitiful, fragile, and helpless. Her adorable face overflowed with fear and sorrow. Yet, Duanmu Huai showed not the slightest trace of sympathy for the girl before him.

He had already heard from Nedai Shinpei: shadows first replicated people’s forms, then killed them, allowing themselves to become the originals—in other words, no matter how cute or pitiful this girl appeared, she was not the real deal. What was inside her was nothing but squirming remnants of the Ancient Dominator from the depths of the Starry Abyss!

"Vile creature."

Standing before the white-haired girl, Duanmu Huai fixed her with an icy gaze before extending his hand.

"Face your fate. Your end is inevitable—destruction!"

"No, don’t, don’t come near me... Help me... someone, help me!!"

As Duanmu Huai’s hand reached out for her, the white-haired girl couldn’t restrain her terror any longer, screaming miserably.

"Crash!"

At that moment, a shadow abruptly lunged behind Duanmu Huai, raising four arms wielding long blades, and struck at him with force!

"Slash—!!"

The sharp long blade pierced forward, targeting Duanmu Huai’s back. Yet, the instant it struck his body, the blade fractured and shattered.

"How is this possible?!"

Seeing this, the shadow was stunned. Before it could process what happened, Duanmu Huai turned around, reaching out to grab its head.

"I didn’t expect there to be another one."

Glaring at the four-clawed beast in his grasp, Duanmu Huai sneered—back at the school, he’d already killed one of these shadow creatures. According to Nedai Shinpei, its host had been Miyaji Enkiri, the shrine priest. Duanmu Huai had thought there was only one of these creatures, but apparently, there was more to it.

"What... what are you...?"

Clutched by Duanmu Huai, the four-clawed beast widened its four eyes, glaring at him furiously—it was certain this man wasn’t human, nor a shadow! Who could survive being stabbed and come out unscathed?

Not only unscathed but breaking the blade itself!

"That’s none of your concern."

Duanmu Huai withdrew his gaze. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake as those foolish bosses who wasted time introducing themselves before finishing the opponent. With a firm grip, he crushed the creature’s head, then tossed its useless corpse aside.

"Thud."

The headless corpse hit the ground heavily. Witnessing her companion’s grisly death, the white-haired girl trembled uncontrollably. When she raised her head again, all she saw was Duanmu Huai’s sinister grin.

"Alright, now it’s your turn... Don’t worry. Your death will be very painful."

"No, no, nooooooo—!!!"

The girl’s scream of despair reverberated throughout the entire cavern at that moment.